Electric-circuit controller.



A. MEADOWS. ELECTRIC GIRGUIT CONTROLLER. APPLICATION FILED 00123-1, 1910.

'Im/info;

Patented Dec. 5, 1911.

ALBERT MEADOWS, OF DETROIT, 'MICI-IIGrA'.\.\l"l

ELECTRIO-CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

Application led October 31, v1910. Serial No'.Y 590,031.

i .To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that L'ALBERT MEADOWS, a' subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland,- residing at Detroit, in the county of Tayne and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements' in Electric-Circuit Controllers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates toelectric circuit controllers more particularly designed for use in connection with motor vehicles for controlling theignition circuit of the motor.

It is the object of the invention to prevent the unauthorized use of the vehicle by rendering it impossible to close the ignitiony circuit, and to this end the invention consists in the peculiar construction of a circuit closing switch, and the means for locking the same in open position, further in the means for inclosing the switch andthe electric con nections thereof so as to render the same inaccessible in the *locked` position of part-s, and further in the peculiar combination of the mechanical permutationloclr with the electric switch, and inthe peculiar construction, arrangement and combination of parts as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a 'central cross section through the controller; Figi)l is a sectional front elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a section online -fw Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the parts in a diiferent position. y

Heretofore'various circuit controlling devices have been applied to motor vehicles designed to prevent the unauthorized operation of the motor. These have however, usually proved ineffectual for various causes among which are,.first, that the electrical connections are often exposed so as to permit the controller to be cut-out and a shunt circuit established; second, where the switch and its connections are inclosed it is vpossible to detach the. casing and obtain access thereto. lMy improvement is` designed. to overcome these objections by a construction in which the switch, its locklng mechanism,

Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented Dec.l 5, 1911.

and the electrical connections are completely inclosed and incapable'of being dismounted 1n the looked' position of parts.

In detail, A is a switch base preferably formed of insulating material and adapted to be-mounted upon a suitable support such as the dash B of theI vehicle by suitable meansr such as bolts C. Upon this base are the electric contacts and as shown these consist of pairs of cont-acts D D and `D2 D3.`

E is a switch plate for coupling the pairs of contacts alternatively,

F. is an operating stein and G a handle secured to said stem; -To

for the plate E,

prevent the operation of the handle Gr when the switch is opened, a mechanical permutation lockis provided. This preferably consistsf'of a knob or rotary member l1H which is sleevedupon fthe 'stem F and is arranged to operatea series of permutations or tumblers I. These are formed ofnot'ched disks having a circular series'of apertures AI therein in which stop pins J maybe inserted in various positions. The rst disk' of the series is directly operated by engaging the sleeve K to. which the knob H is attached, and the successive disksof the series are operated from the first disk through the engagement of the stop pins. Thev arrangenient is such that by rotating the knob H f alternately in op osite directions as is usual with locks o this character, the tum-.

bler disks may be successively positioned with the notches L in the periphery thereof alined. M is the pin for engaging the notches L when in alinement,y said vpin being secured to a link N pivoted at its opposite end by the pin O to permit the pin M to move radially with respect to said disks.

P is a plate vsecured to'the switch plate E and having a segmental slot P therein with which the pin M is engaged, `said slot being of suilicient length to permit adjust- ,ment of the blade to connect the pairsof The slot P 'is arranged to `be contacts. alined with the pin M only when the latter is in enga ment with the notches L in the tumblers, -ut when these notches are not a1ined,thefpin M is forcedoutward by the i ably engaged with the periphery 'of each -v parts of the permutation lock, a hollow cas- These screws are so thereof.

segmental slot P slot P prevents movement of the pin M out `handle therefor,

holding said switch in open position, a casing inclosing said switch and lock, and securing means for said casing located to be covered by' said handle in the locked position of parts'.

2. An electric circuit controller comprising a switch base having contacts thereon, a switch blade adjustable in the coperative relation of said contacts, a r'otative'stem for operating said blade, a handle for said stem,

pin M engages a locking notch Q in the plate it from movement.

'For housing theswitch plate E and the' ing R 1s mounted upon the base A, being preferably secured thereto by tap screws S. arranged that when the pin M is vin engagement with the notch Q the handle G will beheld in alinement with the screws `S or in aposition to cover the heads thereof, thereby preventing detachment of the casing.

The base A, casing R, handle G and knob H are preferably all formed of insulating material, and as these parts form a ycomplete housing for `the electrical switch, and as the connections thereto pass through the base into the mounting B, it is obvious that it is impossible to form a shunt Acircuit cutting out the switch. It is also to be noted that the screws C which mount the base A upon the dash or other mounting, are sealed by the casing R and when the handle G covers the screws S there is no means of dismounting the s witch or disassembling the parts dle sleeved and rotatable upon said stem, a case for inclosing said lock, switch blade and contacts, covered by said handle in the locked position. 1

3. An electric circuit controller comprising a circ'uit closing switch, an operating handle therefor, lock for holding said switch from operation, a rotative knob for operating said permutation lock, and means operated by the adjustment of said switch in its unlocked position for holding said permutation lock from operation.

4. An electriccircuit controller ing a circuit closing switch, handle therefor a mechanical permutation lock for saidvswitch, an operating knob therefor, a casing inclosing said switch and permutation lock, and means operated by the adjustment of said position for locking said knob from movement.

An electric circuit controller, comprising a switch base, means engaging said base for securing thesame to'ai mounting, an adjustable switch mounted on said base, an operating handle therefor, a lock for holding said switch from operation, a casing inclosing said switch and lock and covering the securing mounting, and securingmeans for said casing on said base located to be covered by the operating handle of said switch in the locked position o f parts.

6. Anv electric circuit controller comprising aswitch base, an adjustable switch mounted thereon, an operating handle for said switch, a permutation lock for holding said switch from operation, a casing for inclosing said switch and permutation lock,

'In operation, whenever the notches L of the disks are in alinement with each other and in registration with the pin M, 'the latter will be engaged therewith, being preferably automatically forced into engagement by the tension o f the spring N operating upon the link N. This will disengage the pin M from the notch Q, and register it with the segmental slot P permitting of adjustment in 'opposite directions to engage the switch plate E alternatively with the con'- tacts D D and D2 D3. The handle G is preferably positioned at substantially right angles to the switch bladeand serves as an indicator showing the position of adjustment of said blade. When the switch blade is adjusted into connection with either" pair of contacts, the pin M will travel along the and while thus traveling will be held in engagement with the notches in the tumblers I, compelling the latter and the knob H-to remain stationary. Thus it will be impossible to throw the combination of the lock while the switch is .closed with either pair of contacts, as the segmental of engagement with the notches- L.

To hold the disks or tumblers I from accition of parts, said base, casing and handle dentalvmovement, a friction shoe is preferbeing formed of insulating material.

7. An electric circuit controller, comprising a switch base, an adjustable switch mounted thereon, a handle for operating said switch,.apermutation lock for said switch comprising a series of rotative disks concentrically ai ranged with respect to Vthe'aXis of said switch vand stop pins, a rotative knob for said disks, a member for locking said switch disk, and as shown, this consists of a spring T having ears TSembracing the-disk, and .yieldably pressed in contact with the periphery thereof.

What I claim as my invention is:

i. An electric circuit controller comprising a circuit closing switch, an operating a. permutation lock for a permutation lock having an operating hanv vcomprisan operating switch in unlocked means for said base on itsand securing means for said casing a mechanical permutation provided with coperatng operating' .13o

y 5 but exposing seid handle and exterior of the casing covering seid securing mea in the locked position of the parts and exposing the securing means in the unlocked position. 'l

In testimony'whereof I aflx my 'signature in presence of two witnesses.

' ALBERT MEADOWS.

engageable with peripheral. notches in said disks when in alinedregistiation therewith to unlock the switch, and a casing inclosing said disks, switch and coperating members knob.

8. An' electric circuit rcontroller comprising a circuit closing switch, a lock for holding said switchin open position, `a casing inclosin -said switch and lock, securing L0 means or the casing, and means upon the f Witnesses:

.JAMES P. BARRY,

AUBREY V. PULLEYBLANK.

Copies of this patent mey be obtained for vfive cents each, byv addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

` Washington, D. C. 

